Bay
Company. Forty times, that is, nearly every year of his Governorship, it
is said he travelled the route between Montreal and Fort Garry, and this
by canoe. He drove his men, who were chiefly French-Canadians, with
irritating haste, and it is a story prevalent among the old Selkirk
Settlers, that a stalwart French voyageur, who was a favorite of the
Governor, was once, in crossing the Lake of the Woods, so infuriated
with his master's urging that he seized the tormentor who was small in
stature, by the shoulders, and with a plentiful use of "sacres," dipped
him into the lake, and then replaced him in the bottom of the canoe.

It does not fall within the scope of our story to tell of Simpson's
journeys through Rupert's Land, nor of his famous voyage around the
world, but there is extant an account of his methods of appealing to the
interest of the Indians and servants of the company in his notable
progresses through the wilds. Some seven years after his appointment
Governor Simpson made a voyage from Hudson Bay, across country to the
Pacific Ocean, namely, from York Factory to Fort Vancouver on the
Columbia River. Fourteen chief officers, factors and traders, and as
many more clerks had gathered to see the chieftain depart. Taking with
him a lieutenant--Macdonald, a doctor and two canoe crews, of nine men
each, the jolly Governor with dashing speed ascended the Hayes River, up
which the Selkirk Colonists had laboriously come, receiving as he left
the Factory, loud cheers from all the people gathered, and a salute of
seven guns from the garrison. The French-Canadian voyageurs struck up
their boating songs with glee, and with dashing paddles left the bay
behind.

The expedition was well provided with supplies, including wine for the
gentlemen and spirits for the men.

The arrival at Norway House was a fete.

Before reaching the Fort the party landed on the shore, and paying much
attention to their toilets, put themselves in proper trim. In full
career the canoes dashed through the deep rocky gorge leading to the
Fort, the Governor's canoe, had on its high prow, conspicuous the French
guide, who for the time gave commands. The Governor always took his
Highland piper with him, and now there pealed forth from the canoe the
strident strains of the bagpipes, while from the second canoe sounded
the shrill call of the chief factor's bugle. As the party approached the
Fort they saw the Union Jack with its magic letters H.B